Young Buddhist Association of Indonesia and Indonesian Buddhist Women Host Cultural Show by African Buddhist Children

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Young Buddhist Association of Indonesia and Indonesian Buddhist Women Host Cultural Show by African Buddhist Children

By Buddhistdoor Global
July 17, 2024

Young Buddhist Association of Indonesia and Indonesian Buddhist Women (Wanita Buddhis Indonesia) made history on 14 July by hosting the “Humanitarian Cultural Exchange Tour 2024: The African Kids Show,” in Surabaya. The event was part of a tour that will see a delegation of African Buddhist children give cultural performances in four cities in Indonesia: Surabaya, Makassar, Bangka, and Batam.

The Young Buddhist Association (YBA) is the leading Buddhist youth organization in Indonesia. Through a deeply held conviction in the Buddha’s message of compassion, growth, and liberation, the association promotes a positive lifestyle among the young in order to cultivate a society founded on wisdom, compassion, and gratitude. The association is involved in establishing Buddhist organizations nationwide, propagating the study of the Dharma among young people, and providing leadership training.

For their Surabaya performance on Sunday, the children drew a crowd of close to 2,000 spectators, who were amazed by the various performances of the children, all of whom hailed from the southern African kingdom of Eswatini.

YBA chairman Limanyono Tanto explained that this event was particularly special because it was held in collaboration with the Amitofo Care Center Foundation and Indonesian Buddhist Women. The event was attended by Amitofo Care Center’s founder, Master Hui Li, who has been propagating the Buddhist teaching on the African continent for 20 years.

“We feel that the arrival of these African children is not just an exchange of arts and culture, but has provided an injection of enthusiasm and inspiration because here is a group of children who, in the midst of the difficulties of their lives in Africa, have still achieved filling their childhood with happiness in the Buddhadharma,” Limanyono remarked. “As young Buddhists in Indonesia, and in the city of Surabaya in particular, we view this as a source of motivation to inherit their spirit and fighting power in persevering and learning about Buddhism.”

Despite a surplus of facilities and opportunities in Indonesia, there were still many who had not chosen to study the Buddhadharma seriously in order to find happiness, Limanyono explained, pointing out that these young children from Africa were all able to read and recite Buddhist scriptures in Mandarin—something very rare among young Buddhists in Indonesia.

“So the most important point is that we can absorb from our African brothers and sisters the spirit and fighting power to become lotus flowers that bloom gracefully in the middle of a muddy pond,” he emphasized.

Limanyono also expressed gratitude for the presence of Master Hui Li as the founder of the Amitofo Care Center, who had nurtured these children into Dharma ambassadors or propagators who were easily accepted by the community. He voiced hope that the work of Master Hui Li would inspire Buddhists in Indonesia to establish Amitofo Care Centers in remote areas of Indonesia to help alleviate poverty and improve access to education.

“We are confident and optimistic that the development of Buddhism will increase rapidly if it is supported by the formal education sector, where Buddhism can become foundational for the morals and mindset of students from an early age,” Limanyono added. “This is what we see as our big task together in Indonesia—especially in big cities such as Surabaya.

Meanwhile, the chair of Indonesian Buddhist Women, Lucy Salim, described the cultural exchange as extraordinary and unexpected, and she applauded the YBA for its role in organizing the event. “I hope we can continue to work together and continue to be successful, going forward to do the best for the sake of our community,” she said.

The chair of Indonesian Buddhist Women of East Java Province, Jaswiati, concurred, expressing her appreciation of the occasion, and praising the greatness of the members of the YBA: “Hopefully, my children in the YBA and Indonesian Buddhist Women can continue to be united and organize more great events in the future.”

Although officially a secular nation, Indonesia is home to a diversity of communities and religious and spiritual traditions. Islam is the most widespread religion, observed by 87 per cent of the population, according to national data for 2022. Christian traditions account for a combined 10.5 per cent, Hinduism 1.7 per cent, and Confucianism, folk, and other traditions account for a combined 0.07 per cent.

Buddhism, practiced by 0.73 per cent of the population—roughly two million people—is the second-oldest spiritual tradition in Indonesia after Hinduism. According to historical accounts, Buddhism first flourished on the archipelago around the sixth century, which was followed by ascent and decline of a number of powerful Buddhist empires, including the Shailendra dynasty (c. 8th–9th centuries), the Srivijaya empire (c. 7th–12th centuries), and the Mataram empire (c. 8th–11th centuries). Today, the majority of Indonesian Buddhists are affiliated with Mahayana schools of Buddhism, although communities of Theravada and Vajrayana practitioners also exist.